ACA News

NOW ACCEPTING: ACA National Awards Nominations

The nomination process for the ACA National Awards has officially begun. The Awards winners will be recognized at the upcoming ACA Virtual Conference Experience.

Apply Now: American Counseling Association Foundation Seeks Proposals for Spring 2021 Grants

The American Counseling Association Foundation is seeking proposals from American Counseling Association members for grants of up to $500.

Register Today for an Upcoming Post-Election Webinar with ACA Partner, Arnold & Porter

Attendees will receive a broad overview of post-election results and its impact.

Register Today for an Upcoming Post-Election Webinar with ACA Partner, Arnold & Porter

On November 10, 2020, Arnold & Porter?the lobbying partner of the American Counseling Association (ACA)?will be hosting a webinar to provide a broader overview of post-election results and its impact.

ACA Encourages Voting: Offices Closed on Election Day

ACA offices will be closed on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 in order to allow all ACA staff ample opportunity to exercise their right to vote without distraction or concerns of the workplace.

President Trump Signs S.785 Into Law

S.785, Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019, amends a number of V.A. authorities related to helping veterans transition from military to civilian life; suicide prevention; mental health care research and ...

President Trump Issues Executive Order on Behavioral Health

The President signed an executive order that could increase access to mental health services for those suffering from behavioral health issues exacerbated by the global health pandemic.

House Passes Bill to Increase Access to Mental Health Services for our Nation?s Veterans

Congress passed the Commander John Scott Hannon Veteran Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019, and now the bill is on the President?s desk for him to sign into law.

ACA Responds to Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping

The September 22, 2020 executive order seeks to combat "division and inefficiency" in federal contracting by prohibiting contractors from providing employee training on "divisive concepts." ACA is very concerned that the Executive Order would place an ...

House Pushes Passage of Mental Health Equity Bill

Introduced in the House of Representatives on December 17, 2019 by Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), H.R.5469 would provide licensed professional counselors with additional resources to address racial inequities within mental health care.

ACA Recognizes Trauma Due to Kentucky's Grand Jury's Decision in Breonna Taylor's Case

We have a moral and professional obligation to deconstruct institutions that have historically been designed to benefit white America. These systems must be dismantled in order to level the playing field for Black communities.

The U.S. House of Representatives Passes Major Suicide Prevention Legislation

The United States House of Representatives passed several bills focused on Suicide Prevention and Awareness. The bills will create programs for self-harm and prevention, as well as establishes a new national suicide prevention hotline number.

ACA mourns the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg

Justice Ginsburg?s legacy will continue to inspire generations to come, and may her memory be an inspiration to us all.

Our Community Gathers: A Conversation with Counselors about Mental Health in 2020 | 9/17/2020 from 7-9 p.m. EDT

Practicing Self-Care | Supporting Counselors of Color

H.R. 945 ? Medicare Reimbursement for Mental Health Counselors Takes a Step in the Right Direction

Medicare Reimbursement is on the Move

Great News for Licensed Professional Counselors! HHS Extends the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar has signed a continuation of the COVID-19 public health emergency, ensuring greater access to mental health services.

Countering Health Disparities in Black & Latinx Communities: What Counselors and Other Mental Health Professionals Can Do

Cirecie A. West-Olatunji, Ph. D. serves as full professor and director of the Center for Traumatic Stress Research at Xavier University of Louisiana. She is also a past president of the American Counseling Association (ACA). Nationally, Dr. ...

The American Counseling Association and Association for Counselor Education and Supervision?s Joint Statement on ICE?s New Rules for Foreign Students

The American Counseling Association and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision stand in opposition to new regulations issued by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that will withdraw visas from foreign students whose ...

Free Access to the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development

This virtual issue of the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development (JMCD) is a collection of previously published articles that aims to advance multicultural and social justice counseling efforts during the COVID-19 era. The featured ...

July is Minority Mental Health Month

July is Minority Mental Health Month, more recently known as #BIPOCMentalHealthMonth. BIPOC are often faced with years - even generations - of trauma, which translates to socioeconomic disparities and, in turn, is linked to mental health concerns today.